Black gunk in home spa/whirlpool bath?
AES
in this group two years ago -- still looking for an answer:
Jacuzzi indoor whirlpool bath, 4 jets, often stands empty (tub drained)
for several months between uses, in a generally cold climate (house
temperature 50 F or so).
The first 6 to 10 times the tub is filled and used after each such
interval, turning on the jets causes them to spew out small flakes (1/4"
to 1/8" in size) of a translucent brown polymeric-looking crud. These
flakes have random shapes and appear to be slightly curved as if they
came off the inside of a pipe or fitting.
Anyone have any suggestions for a cleaning agent that would inhibit the
formation or growth of whatever causes this? (Just filling the tub with
clean hot water and running the jets for a prolonged period before
draining the tub doesn't seem to do the job.)
Email answers appreciated; I don't always get to read this group.
JohnR66
news:siegman-D80935...@news.stanford.edu...
When you drain the tub, some water may remain in the pipes where mold and
bacteria can grow. It is possible that the crud you see is this.
John
RicodJour
Newsgroups are open forums, emailing you would prevent future searchers
from finding answers. You found Justin's question, so it would be
polite of you to allow others to benefit from yours.
In technical terms, you have shit growing in the pipes. Water-jet tubs
never completely drain and the standing water, sloughed off skin cells
and bacteria are a veritable petri dish of a breeding ground. Every
whirlpool manufacturer has instructions on how to clean their tubs, and
you'll find that information on their web site. Basically you'll be
shocking the system with either bleach or pool shock chemicals.
R
PipeDown
"JohnR66" <nos...@att.net> wrote in message
news:s4nRf.556338$qk4.5...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Try running some liquid diswashing detergent through and rinse before
closing down or during the first use.
Do you have hard water. Nothing will inhibit the deposition of minerals
from evaporating water except to prevent the water from standing in there in
the first place.
Do these flakes dissolve? perhaps the impeller of the pump is deteriorating
tinac...@sbcglobal.net
Scary News About Your Home's Bathtub
If you have one of the very popular whirlpool bathtubs in your home,
beware! You could be sitting in a simmering pool of toxic bacteria.
A study by Texas A&M University microbiologist Rita B. Moyes shows that
whirlpool bathtubs can be a breeding ground for dozens of types of
bacteria, many of which are potential pathogens, making such water
ground zero for infectious diseases. That's right, the water in which
you're leisurely soaking could be some of the filthiest and nastiest in
the world.
Moyes tested 43 water samples from whirlpool bathtubs--both private and
public--and found that all 43 had bacterial growth ranging from mild to
red-level dangerous. A whopping 95 percent showed the presence of fecal
derived bacteria, while 81 percent had fungi and 34 percent contained
staphylococcus, which can cause deadly staph infections.
"Whirlpool baths are almost always a prime area for potentially harmful
microbes," Moyes explains. "The main reason is the lining of the pipes.
They are full of inaccessible air, and water in these pipes tends to
get trapped, often for long periods of time. When the jets are then
switched on, this water with harmful bacteria gets blown into the tub
where a person is soaking and then trouble can start."
How much bacteria are in whirlpool tub pipes? Moyes says that a normal
teaspoon of tap water contains an average of about 138 bacteria, with
many samples not having any bacteria at all. But the same teaspoon of
whirlpool tub water contains an average of more than 2.17 million
bacteria. "The stagnant water in a whirlpool bathtub pipe is a great
place for bacteria to grow and grow," she says.
Such harmful bacteria can lead to numerous diseases, including urinary
tract infections, septicemia, pneumonia and several types of skin
infections. Because of the aerosol mist created by the whirlpool
action, microbes are forced into the lungs or open cuts, she explains.
One type of bacteria, L. pneumophila, can cause Legionnaires Disease,
of which 90 percent of all cases can be traced back to bacteria
developed from a warm environment.
Moyes says that as long ago as 1972, studies were done to test the
bacteria levels in whirlpool baths and hot tubs, but evidence collected
has often not shown sufficient reasons for concern. "That's probably
because a hot tub or whirlpool as a source of infection can't be
clearly distinguished from other sources," she adds. "An example might
be when you develop a respiratory infection. The doctor can tell you
that you do have a respiratory infection, but he or she can't tell you
how you got it.
What can you do? Clean out the pipes! And it's not easy. They need to
be scraped. It's probably best to hire a professional to do the job at
least once a year.
The lesson learned: Enter a whirlpool bathtub at your own risk, and it
may be a considerable one.
tom
levels up. Tom
PipeDown
already knows it.
The real nasty stuff is in those foot baths used in spas and nail salons.
That is a well known source of serious infections not just a potential one.
I stopped going to the commercial hot tubs a few years ago when I pulled up
a nasty clump of hair and my girlfriend said that was the last visit there.
(tip to guys, if you find something nasty, don't let her see it)
I said it already, dishwashing detergent works great. It excells at
breaking down oils and organic contaminants. The enzymes they put in the
stuff are quite effective. Cuts through soap scum faster than Ajax or soft
scrub, I don't buy tub cleaner anymore just use that stuff.
<tinac...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1142296287.2...@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Richard J Kinch
> Anyone have any suggestions for a cleaning agent that would inhibit the
> formation or growth of whatever causes this?
Chlorine and low pH together cure all.
Richard J Kinch
> beware! You could be sitting in a simmering pool of toxic bacteria.
Bunk. Properly chlorinated pool or hot tub water is sterile. Furthermore,
it does not support microbial growth because any microbe food will have
been oxidized to outgassing end products or inorganic minerals.
Untreated or improperly treated water, then you deserve what you get. Don't
swim in yesterday's cheek wash.
Richard J Kinch
> The first 6 to 10 times the tub is filled and used after each such
> interval, turning on the jets causes them to spew out small flakes (1/4"
> to 1/8" in size) of a translucent brown polymeric-looking crud.
It is called biofilm. Caused by improper use and maintenance.
blue
badly maintained spas so be careful.
blue
mm
wrote:
>
>> Email answers appreciated; I don't always get to read this group.
>
>Newsgroups are open forums, emailing you would prevent future searchers
>from finding answers. You found Justin's question, so it would be
>polite of you to allow others to benefit from yours.
Actually, she and Justin have been seeing each other for the last two
years. That's how she knows about his problem. It's nothing romantic.
They just get together and discuss their flakes.
tra...@optonline.net
Now that's real practical. Hello, Mr. Plumber? , I need you to come
over and scrape the pipes in my jacuzzi tub. Are these dorks for
real? How the hell do they expect that to be done?
Norminn
Can you put bleach in the water and run whirlpool to clean it once in a
while? Never used one, but I would think that soap scum, skin cells,
bacteria all circulate and remain in whatever water is left standing in
the plumbing (which is pretty much the same reason I would not want one
:o). Dead skin, hair, soap scum are great medium for bacteria or mold.
Richard J Kinch
> These are fabulous breeding grounds regardless of how well you
> maintain the water in the tub itself.
Nonsense. No nutrients, no microbial growth. 10 ppm free chlorine for a
few hours will destroy the nutrients and the microbes.
Richard J Kinch
>>Nonsense. No nutrients, no microbial growth. 10 ppm free chlorine
>>for a few hours will destroy the nutrients and the microbes.
>
> You are 100% incorrect on this one Richard. The clorine never gets
> there.
Never gets where? You fill the tub with superchlorinated water and
circulate it.
Richard J Kinch
> If the secondary pump doesn't get used
> often, none of your "superclorinated water" will ever reach the
> stagnant water in those tubes.
So superchlorinate and turn on the jets.
> Try and follow along, Richard.
Don't be a troll.
Richard J Kinch
> I won't acuse you of being a troll, although, over time you have
> established that you prefer to say "up" when everyone else is saying
> "down".
You post anonymously. Earnest people worth of reply do not.
Richard J Kinch
> You post anonymously. Earnest people worth of reply do not.
Sorry, that should be "worthy of reply".
Stormin Mormon
years ago, there were a whole bunch of toddlers who got sick after
playing in the water. Best they could figure, someone had a BM in the
water, and they weren't using enough chlorine.
I'd think that any whirlpool oughta have enough chlorine so you could
smell chlorine before you got in.
Hi, Jack. How's Ginger? She still around? She was young enough when I
met her, she ogutha still be plenty lively.
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.
<tinac...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1142296287.2...@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Richard J Kinch
> Smart people don't post personal information here for good
> reason. It has nothing to do with veracity.
The term is "anonymous coward". You're afraid, you fear being known.
You're worse than wrong: you're not worth listening to. You're a troll
picking fights with knowledgeable and respectable persons, with pantyhose
over your head. In real life, it is literally a crime to disguise yourself
in public.
If you think I fake my identity as you adumbrate, you're a fool.
If you cannot confirm my purported identity with a few mouse clicks, you're
inept when it comes to first-grade Internet-based research. If you would
rather insult me than take the trouble to confirm my identity, you're
contemptibly inconsiderate.
If you enjoy spewing your abuse at honest efforts of people of good will to
discuss material subjects, you're sick.
Even if we were to grant you the petty argument at hand, things still look
grim for you.
Goedjn
>picking fights with knowledgeable and respectable persons, with pantyhose
>over your head. In real life, it is literally a crime to disguise yourself
>in public.
Where?
Richard J Kinch
> In real life, it is literally a crime to disguise yourself in public.
> Where?
New York State, for example.
Richard J Kinch
> You are the archetype contrarian.
Usenet traffic consists of a few bottles of truth floating in a sea of
error, ignorance and stupidity. Your posts are raw sewage piping into that
sea. Forgive me while I paddle to somewhere less polluted.
Dan Wenz
>
> Yeah. I remember how they rounded up all the women in New York state wearing
> makeup and wigs and shot them! Everyone feels much safer now.
>
> Brides wearing veils are usually given accelerated rehabilitation.
>
> Welders wearing faceshields have to pay a "lookout" to watch for THE MAN!
>
> Whatever you do, when in New York State... DON'T WEAR GLASSES!
>
> Its the LAW!
>
>
God help all those halloweeners :-)
Richard J Kinch
> God help all those halloweeners :-)
From the Laws of New York State:
240.35 Loitering.
A person is guilty of loitering when he:
...
4. Being masked or in any manner disguised by unusual or unnatural
attire or facial alteration, loiters, remains or congregates in a public
place with other persons so masked or disguised, or knowingly permits or
aids persons so masked or disguised to congregate in a public place;
except that such conduct is not unlawful when it occurs in connection
with a masquerade party or like entertainment if, when such
entertainment is held in a city which has promulgated regulations in
connection with such affairs, permission is first obtained from the
police or other appropriate authorities; or ...